Greens Facilities Update

 

Over the last few weeks, the contractors have made excellent progress and have almost completed all interior works in the main storage area.

In the welfare block the tradesman have been extremely busy and are at the finishing stages of the fitting out.

Work on the wash-down, fuel and chemical store is well advanced and is on schedule to be completed early in the new-year.

A great deal of exterior work still remains to be completed, including the parking area, forecourt and landscaping works, some of which will be undertaken by the greens staff.

Some pictures taken earlier today. 

Main storage area

Chemical, fuel and wash-down storage building

Concreting the forecourt

Drainage 10th Hole - Update

We have now completed the small drainage project on the left-hand approach to the 10^th green. The pipe-work has been installed and the drainage trenches have been backfilled with gravel and a binder layer of grit, the trenches were then topped up with fresh root-zone and are now ready for re-turfing.

Drainage trenches completed

Drainage pipework being installed

It is our intention during the next spell of frosty weather to extend these drainage works round the left-hand side of the green. This additional drainage will help considerably in removing a great deal of the standing water, which affects this area after heavy rain.

One of our goals going forward is to address areas such as at the 10^th hole and tackle our drainage problems. These small projects add up and will, eventually, in time make a big difference to the condition and playability of the course. 

Drainage 16th Hole - Update

Drainage contractors are now on site and have commenced excavations, they are at present working in the woodlands south of the ladies 17^th tee.

The contractors have exposed the existing manhole and the first 12 metre section of pipework has now been installed.

New 450mm diameter drainage pipe 

New drainage pipe work being delivered

Contractors commence drainage works

This schedule of works is expected to be completed by the of January 2012. 

Please note: 

That the 17^th teeing grounds are closed and that all golfers must use the temporary forward tee.

Course Closed

Unfortunately, because of adverse weather conditions both courses today have remained closed.

Following the snow at the weekend, overnight sub zero temperatures have now left playing surfaces frozen and both courses unplayable.

Hole 17 - December 6 th 2011

Hopefully the weather will improve over the next few days and some golf is available at the weekend. 

Drainage Works Update - 16th Fairway

Drainage 16^th Fairway

Phase 1 – Installation of a new 450mm drainage outlet pipe from the 16^th fairway.

Background

The existing drainage outlet from the 16^th fairway runs through a 250mm diameter pipe from the end of the open ditch to a manhole just passed the irrigation tank.

From this manhole it crosses the roadway and into another manhole in the southwest corner of the grey car park. At this point the water drains into a stone/rubble drain, which connects into an inspection chamber 25 meters south of the men’s 17^th tee.

From our investigations the piped section that runs underneath the access road is in extremely poor condition and has collapsed in a number of different places and is now beyond economic repair. 

The stone/rubble drain section, which was installed when the area was still a working quarry some 125 years ago, runs underneath the mound on the right-hand side of the 17^th tee, which is now a wooded area.

Results from the recent site survey estimate the stone/rubble drain at a depth of 7 meters, the flow tests indicates that the drain is in extremely poor condition, undoubtedly contaminated by soil and tree roots.

Planned Works

Because of health and safety regulations we have appointed drainage specialists to undertake this program of works.

They will install a new 450mm diameter solid pipe, starting from the existing manhole beside the irrigation tank and extending 100 metres east, through the rough adjacent to the 16^th fairway. At the first opening to the men’s 17th teeing ground an inspection chamber will be constructed at a depth of approximately 6 metres. The pipe will then take a ninety-degree right turn, crossing the access road and 17^th tee before finally connecting into the existing inspection chamber 25metres south of the 17^th tee.   

When the pipe-work has been installed, the trench will be backfilled and levelled ready for seeding in the spring.

Red flags showing line of new pipe-work

At this point the pipe-work crosses the road and 17th tee

Drainage Works - Hole 10

In the last few days we have commenced drainage works on hole 10. 

We are at present working on the left-hand approach to the green and are in the process of installing a 150 mm diameter perforated mains pipe, with 60 mm diameter laterals. 

Some pictures of the progress:

Trench for mains pipe-work almost ready

Excavating trenches for laterals 

Course Update - December 1st 2011

Course Update

Since my last update we have now finished the rebuilding and enlargement of the 18^th yellow tee. Turfing has now been completed and in the coming weeks the tee top will be rolled and lightly top-dressed with sand to assist in firming and smoothing of the surface.

Despite the heavy rain that we have experienced recently, the bunker alterations on the 17th hole are progressing extremely well. The bunkering on the left-hand side of the fairway and left greenside have now been completed and on the right-hand we have almost finished the reshaping and ground works ahead of turfing early next week.

We are also at present aerating the tees on both courses with 14mm diameter solid tines to a depth of 90mm. We would normally lightly top-dress the tees with sand following this type of aeration but the weather and ground conditions need to improve before this operation can commence.  

Looking ahead to next week, we have some drainage work and path repairs to look forward to on Murrayfield and on Ravelston we have some shrubs that require transplanting and providing the weather is suitable, we hope to progress the path at the 6^th teeing ground.

Greens Facilities Update

Work on the new greens facilities is progressing extremely well and changes are being seen daily.

The concrete base/floor in the welfare unit has been poured and the fitting out of this area has commenced. 

The electricians have also been on site and the installation of all the internal lighting in the main storage area has now been completed

At present the foundations and subsurface levels in the main storage area are being prepared and made ready for concrete pouring later this week.

Some recent pictures from the new greens facilities.

Concrete base being poured

Establishing final sub-base levels

Course Improvements - Update

Course Improvements – Update

Since my last update we have now completed the left-hand greenside bunker alterations on hole 17. The existing bunker has been moved closer to the putting surface and a new front left-hand greenside bunker, has now been added.

Greenside bunkers - Turfing completed

On the fairway we have moved the last fairway bunker on the left-side back 10 yards towards the tee and slightly closer to the fairway.

The middle bunker on the left-hand side of the fairway is at present now being reshaped.

Excavating new fairway bunker

Turfing new fairway bunker

The rebuilding and enlargement of the 18^th yellow tee is proceeding extremely well, the staff are at present spreading root-zone and establishing the final surface levels.

Levelling tee top

Tee top almost ready for turfing

Weather permitting the tee should be ready for turfing early next week.

Greenkeeping Facilities - Update

I have included a couple of pictures taken earlier today from the site.

The columns have now been erected and the roof clad.

Later this week the builders hope to be ready to pour the concrete for the base of the welfare block, this will allow the internal fitting to commence next week. 

October 2011 - Weather

Weather – October 2011

The recorded rainfall/precipitation for October was 95.2 mm, which is about the average for October, but without doubt the month will be remembered as a very warm month with temperatures some 4C above the monthly average. 

The average soil temperature at 30 cm was 12.9C (2.7C higher than normal)

Recorded sunshine was 80 hours (20 hours less than normal)

The warmest recorded temperature was 19C on October 14^th and the coldest on October 20^th when we experienced our first ground frost. 

Hole 17 Bunker Alterations

Last week we began bunker alterations on the 17^th hole.

At greenside we decided to move the existing left-hand side bunker closer to the putting surface and slightly forward.

The existing bunker, which had been cut back and edged over a number of years had expanded in size and lost its original shape and become quite isolated from play.

Infilling the existing bunker and marking out the new bunker position

Excavating new bunker

Shaped and ready for turf

Turfing bunker surrounds

More updates to follow.

12th Tee Renovation Project

This week the greens staff completed the 12^th tee renovation project.

Ready for re-turfing

The tee has now been re-graded to ensure that water drains freely from the surface and re-turfed.

In the next few weeks if the present mild weather continues, the tee will be lightly rolled and top-dressed with a sand based dressing to smooth and firm the surface. 

Turfing tee top

Turfing completed

Weather permitting; the tee should be ready for play in April 2012.

The 2^nd phase of works on the 9^th green surrounds was also concluded this week when we finished re-turfing the area. 

Re-turfing completed on 9th green surrounds

Course Update - October 21st 2011

Autumn Greens Maintenance Program – Despite difficult weather conditions, I am pleased to report that we have now completed greens hollow coring operations and that 40 tonnes of top dressing sand has now been applied to the putting surfaces.

Another 20 tonnes will be spread over the next two weeks to infill the remaining core holes and smooth putting surfaces.

Course Improvements - The 2^nd phase of the 9^th green surrounds improvements are now almost complete.

We have removed the thatch-contaminated turf and re-contoured the left-hand side of the green with fresh root zone.

Re-grading left-hand surround of 9th green

The area will be re-turfed at the beginning of November when we expect deliver of our next consignment of turf.


12^th Tee – The turf that was causing surface drainage problems has now been removed from the teeing surface.

We are at present importing additional root zone to ensure that when levelling and re-grading work has been completed, surface water drains freely from the tee top. 

Clearing turf from the 12th tee

Additional root zone for the 12th tee

New Greenkeeping Facilities – The site is now ready for the steel support columns, which have now been delivered and weather permitting should be erected next week.  

The first steel work being delivered

Autumn Maintenance Program 2011 - Update

Update – October 5^th

This week we commenced our Autumn Greens Maintenance Program at Murrayfield and despite the changeable weather the greens have now been hollow cored with 12mm diameter tines to a depth of 90mm. 

,

Hollow coring commences

Hollow coring - Murrayfield 1st Green

We have already applied 20 tonnes of top dressing sand to the putting surfaces and to ensure that all the aeration holes are backfilled, we will apply another 20 tonnes of sand at the beginning of next week.

We have also aerated the 5^th & 13^th greens to a depth of 225mm with 12mm diameter solid tines.

This operation helps to alleviate soil compaction in the greens and will improve the movement of water through the soil profile, later this month (weather permitting), we intend to deep aerate the remaining greens.

Normally, we top-dress the green with sand after aeration but when aerating to relieve deep-rooted compaction we apply the sand to the putting surface beforehand. 

Aerating the 5th green to a depth of 225mm

This avoids the necessity of operating heavy machinery on the newly aerated putting surface, the sand is then brushed into the tine holes with yard brushes. 

Working the sand into the aeration holes

4th Fairway Drainage

I am pleased to report that the second phase of the drainage works on the 4th fairway have now been completed.

I have included some pictures of the progress.

Removing the contaminated gravel to expose the existing drainage pipe.

The first section is ready for back filling

Clean gravel & grit being spread 

Completed works

Murrayfield Golf Club – Drainage 4th Fairway – Phase II

 Drainage 4th Hole

Members will remember that earlier this year we replaced a large section of the main drainage pipe that runs down the left-hand side of the 4^th fairway, the original pipe work had been damaged by tree roots and was beyond repair.

Next week (weather permitting) we intend to commence phase II, the plan is to excavate and refurbish the existing drain, which crosses the fairway at approximately 230 yards from the teeing ground.

We will remove the existing turf (which has an extremely high thatch content) and gravel from over the top of the drain, as this gravel is now contaminated with debris.

This contamination is now slowing infiltration rates and is causing surface flooding, especially after excessive rainfall.

Locating pipe work

Existing gravel contaminated with soil and debris

Once the drain has been covered with fresh 15/ 20 mm diameter gravel, a 50 mm layer of 2-4mm diameter grit will be added.

The grit layer will prevent the new root-zone from being washed down and mixing with the gravel, consequently, ensuring rainwater can drain freely down to the drainage pipe.

Finally, the drainage line will then be returfed with new turf and marked as ground under repair. 

Drainage 16th Hole

We will shortly be announcing plans to start a phased improvement program to the drainage system from the 16^th fairway and hope to commence excavations later this year. 

Autumn Maintenance Programme 2011 - Update

Update - September 20th

Last week we commenced our Autumn Maintenance Programme at Murrayfield, all the tees were hollow cored with 12mm diameter tines to a depth of 75mm and top-dressed with sand.

The tees will receive further applications of sand over the next few weeks to ensure that all the aeration holes have been backfilled and to assist in restoring surface levels.

Hollow Coring 5th Tee

This year we are extending the maintenance programme to include greens surrounds and approaches.

Over the years some of these areas have become compacted and others now have significant accumulations of thatch (organic matter).

This week all the approaches will be hollow cored at the same setting as the tees and top-dressed with sand.

Hollow Coring 17th Approach

If time and ground conditions permit, a number of approaches with excessive thatch levels will be hollow cored and top-dressed again in late October. 

9th Green Surrounds Improvement - Phase 1

Update 

Good progress has been made in the last few days, we have spread the intermediate layer of grit and the new root-zone has been added. 

The grit layer, which is a 2mm to 4mm diameter stone, will stop the root-zone washing down and blocking the perimeter drain and prevent integration of the root-zone with the and sub-base. 

Intermediate Layer Completed

The root-zone is a mix of medium course free draining sand (90% content) and top- soil (10% content).

Ready for Turfing

Turf delivery is expected on Tuesday next week and (weather permitting) Phase 1 should be completed later that day.

Badger Damage

For the second time in less than a month, badgers have caused extensive damage to the 5^th green on Murrayfield.  

This morning there were over twenty holes dug on the green by the badgers in their search for food, primarily, earthworms.

Badger Damage - 5th Green Murrayfield

Badger Damage

Unfortunately, at this time very little can be done to deter the badgers, we can only hope that they move onto another area less prominent than our greens…real soon.